Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-27
Burmah's Ruby Mines.
From the London Times.

From the LONDON 1lnleS.
The long renowned ruby mines of Bur-
nah having now become British property,
a notuLnatural curiosity has been aroused
as to their extent and probable value.
Two circumstances, moreover, have in
an especial degree conduced to keep the
subject before the public. Some months
ago the reported probability o a conces-
sion to work the mines being granted to a
French company gave rise TO the idea that
a valuable possession was about TO pass
into the hands of foreigners, while latterly
interest has been wtetted by the tele-
graphic reports that a British column is
now on the road to take formal possess
sion. Under these circumstances no
apology is perhaps necessary for giving
short account of, first, what is actually
known about these mines; and, secondly,
what IL likely 10 be their value, judging
by analogy, if worked under British man.
agement.
There is not a work of any repute on
precious stones which does not refer to
what are spoken of as the ruby mines OF
Pegu, but the facts given are, generally
speaking, very anJiquated, and have been
much modified by their travels through
the hands Of q succession of cOmpilers.
ravernier's account of the mines, which
was derived from bearsay, as giving an
epitome of what was known of them III
y
and os The source of the principal part OF
the in formation to be found in mos OF the
subsequent writer's, may mere be quoted.
He says the place where the bies are
obtained lis a mountain twelve days
Journey or Whereabouts from Siren |. e.,
Siriam) toward the northeast, and 1t is
called Capelan ii. e., hyatpyen). II is
the mine whence Is obtained the greatest
quantity of rubies, spinelles or mothers
q ri ts.ht 70
sapphlres, hyacinths, amethysts and other
stones of different colors. Siren
il the name OF the city where the King of
Pegu resides, aud Ava is the port of the
kingdom. From Ava to Siren you ascend
the river in large fiat boats and 1t is a VOy-
age OF about sixteen days, \ gu cannot
| travel by land on account OF the forests,
| which abound with lions, tigers and ele-
| plants. 1t is one OF the poorest countries
IN the world; nothing comes from il but
rubies, and even they are not 30 abundant
as Is generally believed, seeing that the
| value does not exceed 10000 crowns per
annum Among the multitude of these
stones you would find It difficult to meet
with one of good quality weighing three
or tour carats, because the King does not
! allow any TO be removed till they have
been seen by him, and he retains all the
! good ones which he finds among them.
! This is the reason why, in all my jour
neys, nave earned a sufficiently large
profit by bringing rubies from Europe
INFO Asia, and the story of Vincent lie
Blanc is much doubted where he says he
has s1s--isa..sssssin the palace OF the King
as large rs eggs.
Visitors to Mandalay have afforded
some further information as the result of
their inquiries made In the capital. The
majority of the rubIes found are less than
quarter OF u carat In weight, and the
larger ones are generally fawed. Sap
phires, though relatively rare, are gene
rally of larger size, stones Of nine to thir-
teen carats without flaw being found,
while rubies OF that size are seldom seen.
The revenue from the mines, which con-
stituted n royal monopoly, amounted
thirty years ago TO from El2. 800 to SIS, 600
per Annum. such are the principal facts
at present available, aud, no doubt, TO
sanguine minds the prospect may appear
tempting, and il may be thought that,
with proper mining appliances aud under
British management, these mines mig
be made 70 yield a ricn return 10 may
prove 10 be 30, but experience In India
and in Cey Ion under more favorable cir
cumstances OF position does not justify
that conclusion.